Minneapolis, Minnesota (Nov. 5, 2018) – Xcel Energy is now offering tailored advice to customers to help them manage their energy use and keep their electric bill low. The price of electricity doesn’t usually change month to month, but the amount of electricity customers use often does. Understanding the factors that drive how much energy a customer uses can help them save energy and manage their household budgets.

Xcel Energy is now sharing short, customized videos with customers through email, helping them understand what may be affecting their electricity use and the total amount they pay for electricity. So far, about 469,000 customers in the eight states Xcel Energy serves have received a custom video, including more than 186,000 in Minnesota. The videos detail how weather, price changes, energy-use changes and even a shorter or longer billing cycle can lead to differences in bills from month to month.

“Our customers tell us they want more information on managing their monthly energy costs, and we have found that these short video explainers are effective ways to help customers understand how their billing amount could have changed noticeably in a month’s time,” said Shawn Bielke, product portfolio manager in Xcel Energy’s customer experience group.

Customers receive these emails when they have experienced at least a $15 swing in their bill from the previous month, and have agreed to receive email communications from the company.

Often, the month-to-month fluctuations are weather related, especially during more extreme weather seasons, because weather affects the amount of electricity that customers use to heat and cool their homes. The upcoming winter heating season is one of those times of the year.

“For example, if your July bill is higher than the June bill, you’re likely using your air conditioner more than you were the previous month to beat the heat, and the video estimates how much of the increase is likely related to cooling your home,” Bielke said.

If a bill is lower than the previous month, the explainer videos also estimate how much of that savings was related to actions the homeowner took to use energy more efficiently. Knowing this can encourage customers to keep up their efforts to control costs by better managing thermostats or adding more efficient appliances.

Here is an example of the personalized bill message video that some customers may receive: https://vimeo.com/245992447/8a892d4b75 (external link)

For the upcoming winter heating season, Xcel Energy also offers this advice for its Minnesota customers:

  • Let the Sunlight in and Keep the Cold Out - Open blinds to take advantage of the sun's warmth during the day, but be sure to close them again at night to insulate against the cold air outside.
  • Lower Your Thermostat - During winter months, set thermostat between 65-70 degrees while you're home, and 58 degrees when you're away. A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your routine and could help you save up to 10 percent on heating costs.
  • Use Fans to Your Advantage - During colder months, run your ceiling fans counter-clockwise, so that the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling is forced down.
  • Keep Your Oven's Heat Where it Belongs - Use your oven light or timer to avoid opening it often while you cook; each time the door is opened, the temperature drops 25 degrees. Put lids on your pots and pans while cooking to speed up cooking time and keep the heat where you need it most.
  • Lower Your Water Heater's Temperature or Insulate it - The proper temperature for a water heater is 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and by lowering it 10 degrees, you can save up to 3-5 percent on your water heating costs; you can also insulate it to maximize efficiency.
  • Keep Filters Clean - Dirty furnace filters reduce airflow, requiring your furnace to work harder and use more energy. Change the filter once a month during the winter to reduce your heating costs by 5 percent.
  • Don't Let the Heat Escape - Affordable window sealing kits can be found in most local home improvement stores and can help you save more than $40. You can also have your home evaluated for leaky ducts, drafts around doors and windows, fireplace dampers, and other places where air might escape.
  • Improve Insulation - Improving the insulation of walls, crawl spaces, floors, and heating ducts is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy costs, saving you upwards of 10 percent on your monthly energy bill.

Xcel Energy offers several programs that help customers use energy more efficiently. In Minnesota customers can go to https://www.xcelenergy.com/ways_to_save to get more details or find links to energy saving tips.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.